Cost-Effectiveness of Two Methods of Job Analysis

A three-phase study was conducted to compare the cost-effectiveness of two methods for determining job profiles in the publishing business and book trade--the task inventory and the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) process. In phases 1 and 2, the task inventory and DACUM approaches were used to identify future changes in the technology used in the publishing industry and the resultant changes in jobs in the industry. The task inventory and DACUM approaches were then compared in phase 3. Both methods realized their planned results. The DACUM process required less staff time (17.2 versus 47 days). Furthermore, the task inventory demanded research personnel who were unnecessary for the DACUM workshops. However, DACUM requires more money for accommodation and travel expenses. Although both methods achieved their goals, there were subtle differences between them. Both DACUM and the task inventory gave good overall pictures of the occupation. Yet DACUM made the new technology in the publishing occupations more visible. Moreover, the task inventory required more time and costs than did the DACUM method. Since efficiency is a key element of cost-effectiveness and since the the DACUM method proved to be the more efficient method, it can be considered more cost-effective than task analysis. (MN)